PERAK – Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi has emerged as one of the best strikers in the Super League since joining Perak permanently this season.
He has scored three goals early this season before the league was suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic, and scored another six goals, including four goals in the 5-1 drubbing over Felda United yesterday.
That took his goalscoring tally to nine, more than any other imported strikers in the league ahead of Dominique da Sylva (7), Ifedayo Olusegun (7), Kipre Tchetche (7), Gonzalo Cabrera (6) as well as local JDT forward, Safawi Rasid, who scored five goals this season.
He could also become the first local striker to win the Golden Boot award in 10 years after former Terengganu striker, Abdul Hadi Yahya back in 2011 season.
The 25-year-old striker acknowledged that his goal-scoring touch is getting better and excited with the prospect of winning the coveted award.
“Thank God with all the effort and hard work over the years, I’m getting better with finishing. There really seems to be a bright opportunity to win the first-ever Golden Boot award in my career.”
“However, there are two more matches and I cannot be too satisfied because in football anything can happen. What is for sure, I aim to add more goals in the next match.”
“As a striker, whether I like it or not, I still have to score in every match even one goal because it is the job of a striker,” he said.
Shahrel also thanked Perak head coach, Mehmet Durakovic who constantly believed in him despite often plagued with injuries.
“I think every team expects their import striker to score goals compared to local striker. But it’s different at Perak because Mehmet gave me a 100 percent trust and I want to reciprocate that trust.”
“In fact, the efforts of my teammates also helped me a lot. They know my ability and that is what makes me feel happy when playing with them and that is also what motivates me to be a better player,” he added.
Perak will travel to Kuantan to face Pahang on Oct 3, before wrapping up the Super League campaign with a home match against Kedah on Oct 10. – Football Tribe, September 27, 2020
Please read more here: Shahrel Fikri poised to win Super League Golden Boot 2020 season
